by Ireland center Garry Ringrose has dismissed suggestions that next weekend’s delicious Guinness Six Nations showdown with France will be a Grand Slam decider.
Andy Farrell’s men ultimately had to settle for second place in the 2022 championship as a second round loss to the conquering French in Paris proved pivotal.
The two nations find themselves at the same stage in this year’s competition, with the Irish underlining their status as the world’s highest-ranked team by impressively defeating Wales on the opening weekend before Fabien’s defending champions Galthie will beat Italy.
Title talk is likely to dominate the build-up to the Dublin match, but Ringrose doesn’t think the victors are guaranteed to go on and complete a clean tournament.
“I don’t think so, no,” said the 28-year-old. “In my Six Nations experience, everyone has the ability to beat everyone. Everyone is vulnerable to losing everyone.
“(We’ll take it) one week at a time, improve our game against a team we lost last year in Paris and the year before at Aviva (Stadium). That will be the focus.”
France is the only major nation to have suffered a defeat against Ireland during the Farrell era.
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February 4: Wales 10-34 IRELAND
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February 11: IRELAND v France
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February 25: Italy v IRELAND
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March 12: Scotland v IRELAND
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March 18: IRELAND v England
Les Bleus have twice beaten the Irish at the Stade de France in that time, 35-27 in 2020 and 30-24 last year, as well as being the only visiting team to win at the Aviva Stadium since the last World Cup. , a 15-13 success in 2021.
Ireland’s 34-10 win over Wales on Saturday built on a fast start that included three tries in the first 20 minutes.
The Irish were the recipients of a blistering start during last year’s crucial defeat in the French capital when Antoine Dupont crossed after two minutes.
Ringrose is determined to avoid a sense of déjà vu.
“Reflecting on the start of the game last year, they started incredibly well with the quick line-out, I think it was Dupont,” Leinster’s Ringrose said.
“We just got caught in the jump. They broke us in the counterattack.
“The start for us (next week) would be huge to keep them the threat they pose, pretty much from anywhere, broken play or set pieces they have up front with their strikers.
“We’ll have to be really focused on not letting them get by with their power play, as well as being able to defend the serious try-scorers they have on the edge on the flanks.”
